R&R Partners: Moving Minds

The Good.

3DTV – Well, they could have just called this year’s Consumer Electronic Show, 3DTV World. That is essentially what it was. There were 3D televisions of all shapes and sizes and pretty much all the manufacturers had one. It was hard to tell them apart. Even the 3DTV girls were similar.

I seem to remember it talking longer for HDTV to spread to every manufacturer. There is definitely not a 3DTV gap. And they look fantastic as long as you’re looking directly at the set and paying really close attention. Once you turn away, everything gets foggy and the effect is gone. Plus, you’ll have to wear glasses. Without glasses, 3DTV is 3-image TV. Not good.

CES was crowded so I was unable to recreate my home viewing experience. Also, I didn’t have my chair/command center with me. I sit around 10 feet or so from my 50” Sony. My command center is the chair’s footrest.

It’s where I look at my computer, work, look at the television, look at the computer, etc. I really couldn’t figure out whether it was going to be difficult or easy to add refocusing back to my 3D experience in the sequence.

Samsung Tick Tock – This was one of the really simple and colorful things at the show. It’s an MP3 player with a motion sensor that has only one button. What that one button does depends on how you are holding the device. It’s very innovative and cute. Why it’s called Tick Tock, I have no idea. But who cares?

This Crosley display was just cool.

Crosley – Sometimes when I like something, I just really like the booth or I enjoy the display. I love this retro TV display that sits in the middle of the Crosley booth.

Crosley used to make radios. Now they make these retro-looking devices with a modern purpose – like USB turntables that look like museum relics. I don’t think that LPs are ever going to make a comeback, but there is something wonderfully charming about the mix of old and new in their products.

Panasonic’s 152-inch Plasma HDTV – Wow, bigger really is better, except when it comes to stomachs. This thing is clear and beautiful. I wish they would’ve put something fun to watch on it. It was mostly a film showing all the different aspect ratios it could show of a drag race and then one spectacular shot of a mountain. You’ll have to rip out a wall for this thing but it’ll be well worth it. I’ve included a head for you to use as a size reference.

Copia – Copia is basically a reader that encourages sharing and community. I don’t think it’s going to work because the Apple tablet will be a reader and more. However, I did like the display and the idea behind it. Conceptually it was fun. All that talking about literature with your friends is intellectual. Plus, I really liked the big stack of books.

I’m hoping that isn’t all the titles they have available digitally. Also, if you watch the video on their page you can hear their song. It’s peppy.

Thin TV – They have become remarkably thin. So thin, in fact, that there’s no reason to take a picture of them. If you try to take a picture from the side, you won’t be able to see anything. That’s how thin. Not cut-your-finger thin, but easily decapitating thin. I hope that makes any sense. I also hope you are never decapitated by a TV.

The one pictured here also has almost no border. It’s mostly edge-to-edge screen. I’m like you. I hate it when they’re calling it 50 inches and using valuable screen space for speakers and buttons and stuff. Unacceptable.

Robuddi – All you have to do is attach him to your kid and you’ll always be able to find said kid with the GPS in Robuddi’s belly. That’s right. Robuddi is a cute, rubbery spy. Now you can track your little dude’s or dudette’s movements. You’ll have to hope your little one doesn’t manage to lose Robuddi for it to work. Nothing would be worse than looking for your kid and only finding Robuddi. Someday we’ll all have Intel chip implants and Robuddi will be obsolete. Oh well.

Intel Core Chip – Speaking of Intel, check out their unbelievable display. It’s really something.

Intel is making a crazy new chip that holds three times what will fit in your brain. They didn’t say that, but they should. Could anyone really prove them wrong?

Panasonic Power Maker – That isn’t what they call this thing, but that’s what I am calling it. Panasonic is not good at naming things. What does Lumix mean? Anyway, Panasonic wants folks like you and me to make our own power using methane gas, solar energy, residential battery cells and the MAKER you see here.

It looks really complicated doesn’t it? You have no idea. In the end, I just wanted to know if I would make enough electricity to power my home. She said, “The Japanese are more conservative with their electricity than Americans. It depends on the size of your home and your usage.” In other words, NO. So, I’m figuring three hours of 3DTV at most. I like the concept though. Maybe someday.

Samsung's wall display was awesome.

Samsung’s Giant TV Leaves and Laptop Wall – Yes that’s right. They had a really spectacular display at Samsung that included a leafy looking wall of screens and a wall of laptops. Samsung spent some serious money to prove they were ahead of the curve.

Casio’s Digital Art Frame – This is a simple digital photo frame that makes your photos look like seven different kinds of paintings. Seems pretty cheesy but it will give people something to talk about when they’re bored at your party. In other words, it’s worth its weight in gold.

Giant Steps for Mankind – Maybe there were some, but I didn’t see them. It’s hard to know where to start or where to finish at CES. I was there for about 3.5 hours. It seems like a lot, but I missed plenty. Were there some fun things? Yes. Was there anything that completely blew my mind? No. And, where are all the villains with the mind-control devices and tiny killer toys? I never saw them either. And I was looking for them.

I’ll close The Good with this:

The iPhone Controlled Hovering Drone – It’s a flying craft that has a mounted camera. You can control it with your iPhone.

I didn’t see this at CES but I heard about it. I looked up a few times to see if it was hovering over me. It never did. It was probably hovering over Lady Gaga. And who can blame it?

The Bad and The Ugly are next. Watch for them later this week.